Scammers: Avoid jail pay a fine

If a man from the sheriff’s warrant department calls you and says you will be arrested if you do not pay a fine he will arrange over the phone, just hang up and call the sheriff’s department, because they really want to catch the guy.

If a man from the sheriff’s warrant department calls you and says you will be arrested if you do not pay a fine he will arrange over the phone, just hang up and call the sheriff’s department, because they really want to catch the guy.

According to Dan Garden, investigative sergeant with the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, a number of people in the county have fallen victim to this scam.

“The victims received a phone call,” Garden said in a news release. “The caller identified themselves as a deputy in the Craven County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Section. The caller then stated there was a current warrant for the victim. The caller stated the issue could be handled over the phone by placing a sum of money on a ‘Money Pack’ card, and then provide the card number to the caller.”

River Bend police have also issued a scam/fraud alert stating that some of the amounts demanded have been more than $4,000.

“First of all,” Garden said in a phone interview, “we don’t have a warrants section or a warrants squad to begin with. If we have a warrant we actually go out and knock on the person’s door.”

He noted that the sheriff’s office never collects money related to warrants.

If residents want to know if there are warrants out for them, they can call NCAWARE, the system through which Craven County warrants are issued, and find out at 252-633-2357.

“We actually have people falling for this and they’re out money,” Garden said. “We’re frustrated because we want to find this guy.”

He said the calls originate in the 252 area, but come from outside the local area, using Verizon “dumper” phones that anyone can purchase without identifying themselves.

If you receive a call, Garden said, do not give any information. Then call your local law enforcement agency to report what has happened. You can reach the Craven County Sheriff’s office about the call at 252-636-6643.